Closer Monkey

Tag: Josh Hader

  • Vulture save lottery tickets galore on the penultimate day of the season

    September 30, 2017 Chicago Cubs — The Cubs took the lead in the eighth inning last night, and brought in the already-warm Justin Grimm for the ninth. Grimm pitched a perfect inning to pick up his first save of the year. Grimm has had a tough year, and doesn’t normally figure into the late inning plans…

  • A new king of the ninth inning for the Royals?

    September 22, 2017 Kansas City Royals — Mike Minor picked up his second save of the season in a tight 1-0 win Thursday. Minor also had the Royals’ previous save in their now-historic win over the Indians last week. Given the usage, we’ll slide him ahead of Scott Alexander, who last had a save on…

  • Brad Brach to close for Baltimore to end the season

    September 21, 2017 Baltimore Orioles — If you missed our alert late last night, Zach Britton will have an injection in his knee and miss the rest of the season with an MCL strain. Brad Brach should get any Baltimore save chances over the final nine games, with Darren O’Day his primary backup. Updated hierarchy:…

  • Blake Parker grabs another save for the Angels

    August 31, 2017 Los Angeles Angels — Another save for Blake Parker — this one coming after Cam Bedrosian had pitched the seventh with the team down three — means he’s the new committee leader. Meanwhile, Bud Norris went back to the disabled list on Tuesday with a recurrence of his knee inflammation. Yusmeiro Petit…

  • The Nationals are ever more desperate for a closer

    July 15, 2017 Washington Nationals — When Matt Albers loaded the bases in the ninth inning with a five-run lead, it gave Matt Grace a chance to earn his first career save. Albers’s struggles highlight Washington’s continuing weakness in the bullpen, which we expect to be addressed through trade in the next two weeks. K-Rod,…